Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views that over 46,000 patients are on hospital waiting lists across the State; if she will provide a breakdown of the numbers of patients on waiting lists per hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41980/10]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there has been any reduction in the number of persons waiting for hospital treatment since the figure of 46,400 was released in September 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41869/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 50 and 55 together. The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is responsible for the collation and reporting of national hospital waiting list data. Patients are placed on the national list only after they have been waiting three months, because many people receive their treatment within three months and, in some cases, with little or no waiting. It is not appropriate to classify these patients as "awaiting treatment" in the same way as those who have been waiting for several months. The NTPF's figures for August 2010 indicate that the number of patients waiting for over three months was 20,178. It is not correct, therefore, to conclude that there are over 46,000 patients on waiting lists.

In relation to the Deputies' queries on individual hospital waiting lists and the August comparison to September data, which is due for publication shortly, I have referred the questions to the Executive for direct reply.